The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-02
Gen. Lees Address-A Plea for the
Higher Schools.

EDITOR CLARION: The address, re-
Gently delivered by Gen. Stephen ID.
Lee, before the State Grange of Missis-
sippi, and published in TIE CLARION,
is so full of facts and figures that it
ought to convince every fair-minded
man of the benefits conferred by the A.
& NJ. College, of which he is President,
upon the people of the State. 1t Is, to
nv mind, a mastery yindicatiOn OF the
claims of the College to public recognI-
ton, and is an overwhelming answer to
the objections made against that institu-
ton by men who do not view the sub
iect from his elevated standpoint.
Gen. Lee is a clear-headed man, and
knows a good thing when he sees 1t.
More, he is wise man, and can see
clearly the future effects of present
causes that are working and can only
work for the best interests of the State.
While he deals largely in facts and fig
ures. he arrays and masses them with
such military tact and skill as to amount
to a mathematical demonstration; and
in the conclusion to which they lead,
thew possess the force Of irrefutable logic.
He makes it perfectly plain that the
money appropriated and spent Tor the
annual maintenance of the College, be-
ing a fraction over p per cent. OF the
amount annually expended for public
education, if withdrawn, would be sutfl-
cient to add only two days to the public
school term, thus reducing the objection
to so fine point IS to render it unwor-
thy of serious consideration. This in
significant loss to the public school sys
tenn, necessitated by appropriations to
the College, is made up and returned to
the State thousand-fold by the College
in its contributions to the agricultural
knowledge of the people, in the influence
it exerts in elevating and ennobling the
farmers occupation, in the improved
systems and better methods OF producing
results with great saving OF time, Ia
Dor and money, in providing educators
for the people to lift them out OF the
well-worn grooves of the past, and place
them on the high plane of intelligent
and progressive agriculture, demanded
by the enterprising spirit OF the age In
which we live.
The objection, feeble as it is, if good
at all, applies as well to the State Uni
versity. at Oxford, the Alcorn and A. *
NJ. College and the !. /. & G. College, at
Columbus, as to the A. & Nj. College, at
Starkyille. To be consistent, the obJec-
tors must insist on the abolition OF all
these educational institutions which are
Justly the pride and ornaments OF the
State. Do they carry their objections to
this extent for the purpose of giving to
each educable child in the State seven
DAYS more of public instruction! Would
they destroy these noble seats OF learn
ing. erected at so much cost, and foster
ed and sustained by the enlightened and
progressive public sentiment OF the
State, for such an insignificant consld-
Grafton as this? Truly, it would be tax
ing long stride back towards the dark
days. :,
But, if the objection is not intended
tn he 90 sweeping as to include all the
State institutions, in favor of and against
which shall the discrimination be made? +?
Where begin the process of discrlmlna-
tion? Shall the A. & NJ. College, an
institution created and endowed IN the
interest of the farmers OF the state, VINO
largely outnumber the men engaged IN
all other occupations: be selected as the
one to which these objections solely ap-
ply? If this college, which IS DONG a
grander, nobler work for MISSISSIPPI
than any one of the others, and perhaps
of all of the others, and perhaps OF all
of them combined, why is 1t singled out
and sought to be made the victim OF a
policy so damaging to the agricultural
interests of the State? Is the objecnon
honestly made in the interest OF pubic
education, or is it the out-oropplng OF
deep seated prejudice against the tar-
mer, who is clamoring for greater light
and better methods for the elevation OF
his calling and for advantages that Will
enable him to contribute more largely 10
the resources and wealth of the state
Have farmers, who constitute the bone
and sinew of the country, and whose
products furnish so large an amount OF
value for the support of the government,
no rights that captious cayilers should
respect? Let them answer, or forever
hold their peace.
While regard the A. & NJ. College as
one of the best, if not the very best, In
stitutjon of its kind in the United States,
showing, as it does, now at this early Pc
riod of its history, results that compare
fayorably with older similar lnstltu-
tions in other States, | would not detract
one iota from the character or efficiency
of the other State colleges before named
They occupy different fields OF educa-
tional work, and are necessary, each III
its peculiar sphere, for the interests tney
are intended to subserve. 1helr exist
enee and maintenance do not In the ieasl
conflict with the system OF pubic edu
cation, but, on the contrary, contribute
largely to its efficiency and success. Inc
State acted wisely in their establishment
and should continue to sustain them py
liberal appropriations.
To the farmers of the South, and es
pecially to those of Mississippi, the ad
dress commends itself with great trutt
and force. 1t points out the causes ol
the hard times and prescrlbes the rem
edy. The land-killing system operated
in the interest of single crop, (cotton
to the production of which farmers have
been biindlv devoted, is the cause OF th'
almost universal depression that nov
exists: and since more economic prlnci
nles and better methods have been IN
troduced and practiced, mainly through
the teachings and work of the A. d MI
College. great changes for the bette
have been wrought in the agricultural
nrospects of the country. Diversified
and intensive farming is supercedln.
the old grooved system of the past, slow
lly but furelv working a thorough bu
silent revolution in the practice AM
methods of our Southern agriculture
Land, the farmers capital, will be bette
cared for its value will be augmented II
nroportion to the increase of its apprecis
ton. and contributions to its produclni
mower will be made as certainly an
regularly as the seasons return. a.
those valuable lessons come to the fal
mers of the State through the A. q NJ
College, teaching them how they ma
elevate and ennoble their profession 3
the exercise of brain as well Ms muscI
power, intelligently directed towards II
] highest attainments and best results.
1t is not my purpose to attempt
sunplement Gen. Lees most exceller
address by anything | might be able
add, but simply to give 1t my cordl'
approval and Endorsement and to con
$ mend its careful and unbiased perus
q by every intelligent man in the Stat
{ Nv admiration of the man, OF the mob
4 institution over which he presides al
Q the good work it is doing in the cause
e Education. has betrayed me into sayir
q what have said; and this is my excu
: for troubling you with this commune
4 tion- y. d. uALiNEf :
al Liberty, Miss.
- 49, E-.,. rr<ob